NORTH TEXAS PHEASANT
By Jim Foster
Opening the season on opening day has been rare but this year found me in Spearman, Texas on opening day. My friends and fellow hunters were not due in until Sunday afternoon so I found myself with time on my hands.
Taking Brit, my German shorthair pointer, I drove out to a section of land where some years ago a conservation project had been started. Hoping to find a few birds for my as yet to be tested dog I was happy to see her point her first bird. Letting it fly away we kept hunting finding several more pheasant in the quarter mile grass strip.
As we near the Jeep Brit found another bird. I slipped two shells in the 20 gauge side-by-side and as the colorful rooster took wing a string of number five shot returned it to earth. Brit found the bird and we headed for the Jeep. Later the cleaned rooster found it’s way into my crock-pot to be ready for Sunday lunch.
Later that evening Allan Tarvid drove in from Helena, Montana and we decided to hunt Sunday morning. We had a great hunt then went back to the motor home for a pheasant lunch.
Later that day the remainder of the crew arrived from Houston and Dallas.
Monday morning after a good breakfast the hunt was on. We hunted dry lakebeds, brush patches, and corn and grain fields. I believe all the hunters killed birds and of course there were quite a few misses. Our count for the day was 25 birds for 8 hunters.
As the day progressed the weather forecast showed the chance of snow and high winds on Tuesday and there was conversation among the more southern dwelling of pulling out for home.
Tuesday morning we awoke to several inches of snow on the ground and a steady wind blowing from the north. So this column is being written while watching the snowdrift outside and a cup of hot coffee near the computer. As the plan goes Allan and I will hunt again tomorrow when the weather clears. We hope.
Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) is asking hunters to consider possible changes to the traditional first weekend in December opening date.
"The purpose of this discussion is to gain feedback from hunters and landowners regarding the possibility of opening future pheasant seasons the Friday after Thanksgiving to afford hunters a three-day holiday weekend to enjoy pheasant hunting," said Vernon Bevill, TPW game bird program director. No immediate changes to the pheasant season framework are being considered in order to ensure the public has ample opportunity to weigh in on the discussion.
The current pheasant season framework calls for opening the first Saturday in December for 30 consecutive days. Any change to pheasant season could take effect November 27, 2009 or be delayed until November 26, 2010 to give hunters and outfitters ample time to make travel plans.
To participate in an informal online scoping survey available on the TPWD home page http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/ by clicking on the Public Comments link. Public input can also be made in writing to Vernon Bevill, TPW Game Bird Program Director, 4200 Smith School Rd., Austin, Texas 78744 or at one of the upcoming scoping meetings; locations and dates to be determined.
If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please Email him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com
